Recommended Vehicle Shift Speeds
To utilize your manual transmission effi-
ciently for fuel economy and performance, it
should be upshifted as listed in the recom-mended shift speed chart. Shift at the vehicle
speeds listed for acceleration. When heavily
loaded or pulling a trailer, these recom-
mended up-shift speeds may not apply.
Manual Transmission Shift Speeds in MPH (KM/H)
All EnginesGear Selection 2 to 3 3 to 4 4 to 5 5 to 6
Accel. 24 (39) 34 (55) 47 (76) 56 (90)
Cruise 19 (31) 27 (43) 37 (60) 41 (66)
Downshifting
Moving from a high gear down to a lower gear
is recommended to preserve brakes when
driving down steep hills. In addition, down-
shifting at the right time provides better ac-
celeration when you desire to resume speed.
Downshift progressively. Do not skip gears to
avoid overspeeding the engine and clutch.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine
braking on a slippery surface. The drive
wheels could lose their grip, and the ve-
hicle could skid.
CAUTION!
• Skipping gears and downshifting into
lower gears at higher vehicle speeds can
damage the engine and clutch systems,
Any attempt to shift into lower gear with
clutch pedal depressed may result dam-
age to the clutch system. Shifting into
lower gear and releasing the clutch may
result in engine damage.
• When descending a hill, be very careful
to downshift one gear at a time to pre-
vent overspeeding the engine which can
cause engine damage, and/or clutch
damage, even if the clutch pedal is
pressed. If transfer case is in low range
CAUTION!
the vehicle speeds to cause engine and
clutch damage are significantly lower.
• Failure to follow the maximum recom-
mended downshifting speeds may cause
the engine damage and/or damage the
clutch, even if the clutch pedal is
pressed.
• Descending a hill in low range with
clutch pedal depressed could result in
clutch damage.
145
Maximum Recommended Downshift Speeds
CAUTION!
Failure to follow the maximum recom-
mended downshifting speeds may cause
the engine to overspeed and/or damage
CAUTION!
the clutch disc, even if the clutch pedal is
pressed.
Manual Transmission Shift Speeds in MPH (KM/H)
Gear Selection 6 to 5 5 to 4 4 to 3 3 to 2 2 to 1
Maximum Speed 80 (129) 70 (113) 50 (81) 30 (48) 15 (24)
CAUTION!
If you skip a gear while downshifting or
downshift at too high of a vehicle speed,
these conditions may cause the engine to
overspeed if too low of a gear is selected
and the clutch pedal is released. Damage
to the clutch and the transmission can
result from skipping a gear while down-
shifting or downshifting at too high of a
vehicle speed even if the clutch pedal is
held pressed (i.e., not released).
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION — IF
EQUIPPED
WARNING!
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or
NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher
than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle
could accelerate quickly forward or in
reverse. You could lose control of the
vehicle and hit someone or something.
WARNING!
Only shift into gear when the engine is
idling normally and your foot is firmly
pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle
could injure those in or near the vehicle.
As with all vehicles, you should never
exit a vehicle while the engine is run-
ning. Before exiting a vehicle, always
come to a complete stop, then apply the
parking brake, shift the transmission
into PARK, turn the engine OFF, and
remove the key fob. When the ignition isSTARTING AND OPERATING
146
WARNING!
in the LOCK/OFF (key removal) position,
(or, with Keyless Enter-N-Go, when the
ignition is in the OFF mode) the trans-
mission is locked in PARK, securing the
vehicle against unwanted movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always make
sure the ignition is in the OFF mode,
remove the key fob from the vehicle, and
lock the vehicle.
• Never use the PARK position as a sub-
stitute for the parking brake. Always
apply the parking brake fully when exit-
ing the vehicle to guard against vehicle
movement and possible injury or dam-
age.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you
and others if it is not in PARK. Check by
trying to move the gear selector out of
PARK with the brake pedal released.
Make sure the transmission is in PARK
before exiting the vehicle.
• Never leave children alone in a vehicle,
or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Allowing children to be in a vehicle un-
attended is dangerous for a number of
WARNING!
reasons. A child or others could be seri-
ously or fatally injured. Children should
be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the transmission
gear selector.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle (or in a location accessible to
children), and do not leave the ignition
(in a vehicle equipped with Keyless
Enter-N-Go) in the ACC or ON/RUN
mode. A child could operate power win-
dows, other controls, or move the ve-
hicle.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if
the following precautions are not ob-
served:
• Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE
only after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
CAUTION!
• Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is
above idle speed.
• Before shifting into any gear, make sure
your foot is firmly pressing the brake
pedal.
NOTE:
You must press and hold the brake pedal
while shifting out of PARK.
Key Ignition Park Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition
Park Interlock which requires the transmis-
sion to be in PARK before the ignition can be
turned to the LOCK/OFF (key removal) posi-
tion. The key fob can only be removed from
the ignition when the ignition is in the LOCK/
OFF position, and the transmission is locked
in PARK whenever the ignition is in the
LOCK/OFF position.
147
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock
System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Trans-
mission Shift Interlock system (BTSI) that
holds the transmission gear selector in PARK
unless the brakes are applied. To shift the
transmission out of PARK, the ignition must
be in the ON/RUN mode (engine running or
not) and the brake pedal must be pressed.
The brake pedal must also be pressed to shift
from NEUTRAL into DRIVE or REVERSE
when the vehicle is stopped or moving at low
speeds.
Nine-Speed Automatic Transmission
The transmission gear range (PRND) is dis-
played both beside the gear selector and in
the instrument cluster. To select a gear range,
press the lock button on the gear selector and
move the selector rearward or forward. You
must also press the brake pedal to shift the
transmission out of PARK (or NEUTRAL,
when the vehicle is stopped or moving at low
speeds). Select the DRIVE range for normal
driving.NOTE:
In the event of a mismatch between the gear
selector position and the actual transmission
gear (for example, driver selects REVERSE
while driving forward), the position indicator
will blink continuously until the selector is
returned to the proper position, or the re-
quested shift can be completed.
The electronically-controlled transmission
adapts its shift schedule based on driver
inputs, along with environmental and road
conditions. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts
on a new vehicle may be somewhat abrupt.
This is a normal condition, and precision
shifts will develop within a few hundred miles
(kilometers).
The nine-speed transmission has been devel-
oped to meet the needs of current and future
FWD/AWD vehicles. Software and calibration
is refined to optimize the customer’s driving
experience and fuel economy. By design,
some vehicle and driveline combinations uti-
lize 9th gear only in very specific driving
situations and conditions.Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE
when the accelerator pedal is released and
the vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your
foot on the brake pedal when shifting be-
tween these gears.
The transmission gear selector provides
PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, DRIVE, and
MANUAL (AutoStick) shift positions. Manual
shifts can be made using the AutoStick shift
control. Moving the gear selector into the
MANUAL (-/+) position (beside the DRIVE
position) activates AutoStick mode, provid-
ing manual shift control and displaying the
current gear in the instrument cluster (as 1,
2, 3, etc.). Toggling the gear selector forward
(-) or rearward (+) while in the MANUAL
position will manually select the transmis-
sion gear.
Refer to “AutoStick” in the Owner’s Manual.
STARTING AND OPERATING
148
Shift Positions
For additional information on the appropriate
use of each 4WD system mode position, see
the information below:
NEUTRAL
This range disengages the driveline from the
powertrain.
WARNING!
You or others could be injured or killed if
you leave the vehicle unattended with the
power transfer unit in the NEUTRAL (N)
position without first fully engaging the
parking brake. The NEUTRAL (N) position
disengages both the front and rear drive-
shafts from the powertrain and will allow
the vehicle to roll, even if the automatic
transmission is in PARK (or manual trans-
mission is in gear). The parking brake
should always be applied when the driver
is not in the vehicle.
4WD LOW
This range is for low speed four-wheel drive.
It provides an additional gear reduction
which allows for increased torque to be deliv-
ered to both the front and rear wheels while
providing maximum pulling power for loose,
slippery road surfaces only. Do not exceed
25 mph (40 km/h).
NOTE:
Refer to “Selec-Terrain — If Equipped” for
further information on the various positions
and their intended usages.
Shifting Procedures
Shifting Into 4X4 LOW
With the vehicle at speeds of 0 to 3 mph (0 to
5 km/h), the ignition in the ON mode and the
engine running, shift the transmission into
NEUTRAL, and push the “4WD LOW” button
once. The “4WD LOW” indicator light in the
instrument cluster will begin to flash and
remain on solid when the shift is complete.NOTE:
If shift conditions/interlocks are not met, a
message will flash from the instrument clus-
ter display with instructions on how to com-
plete the requested shift.
Refer to “Instrument Cluster Display” in
“Getting To know Your Instrument Panel” for
further information.
Selec-Terrain SwitchSTARTING AND OPERATING
152
Shifting Out Of 4X4 LOW
With the vehicle at speeds of 0 to 3 mph (0 to
5 km/h), the ignition in the ON mode and the
engine running, shift the transmission into
NEUTRAL, and push the “4WD LOW” button
once. The “4WD LOW” indicator light in the
instrument cluster will flash and go out when
the shift is complete.
NOTE:
• If shift conditions/interlocks are not met, a
message will flash from the instrument
cluster display with instructions on how to
complete the requested shift. Refer to “In-
strument Cluster Display” in “Getting To
Know Your Instrument Panel” for further
information.
• Shifting into or out of 4WD LOW is possible
with the vehicle completely stopped; how-
ever, difficulty may occur due to the mating
clutch teeth not being properly aligned.
Several attempts may be required for
clutch teeth alignment and shift comple-
tion to occur. The preferred method is with
the vehicle rolling 0 to 3 mph (0 to 5 km/h).If the vehicle is moving faster than 3 mph
(5 km/h), the 4WD system will not allow the
shift.
NEUTRAL Shift Procedure
WARNING!
You or others could be injured or killed if
you leave the vehicle unattended with the
power transfer unit in the NEUTRAL (N)
position without first fully engaging the
parking brake. The NEUTRAL (N) position
disengages both the front and rear drive-
shafts from the powertrain and will allow
the vehicle to roll, even if the automatic
transmission is in PARK (or manual trans-
mission is in gear). The parking brake
should always be applied when the driver
is not in the vehicle.
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on
level ground and shift the automatic
transmission to PARK
2. Turn the engine OFF.
3. Turn the ignition to the ON/RUN mode,
but do not start the engine.
4. Press and hold the brake pedal.5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
6. Using a ballpoint pen or similar object,
push and hold the recessed power transfer
unit NEUTRAL (N) button (located by the
selector switch) for four seconds. The
light behind the NEUTRAL (N) symbol
will blink, indicating shift in progress. The
light will stop blinking (stay on solid)
when the shift to NEUTRAL (N) is
complete.
Neutral Switch
153
7. After the shift is completed and the NEU-
TRAL (N) light stays on, release the NEU-
TRAL (N) button.
8. Start the engine.
9. Release the parking brake.
10. Shift the transmission into REVERSE.
11. Release the brake pedal (and clutch
pedal on manual transmissions) for five
seconds and ensure that there is no
vehicle movement.
12. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL.
13. Apply the parking brake.
14. Shift the automatic transmission into
PARK, or place manual transmission in
gear (NOT in Neutral). Turn the engine
OFF, and remove the key fob.
Repeat steps 1-7 to shift out of NEUTRAL.
Refer to "Recreational Towing" in "Starting
and Operating" for further instructions.Rear Electronic Locker (E-Locker) System
— If Equipped
The Rear E-Locker System features a me-
chanical locking rear differential to provide
better traction in the 4WD LOW position. The
“REAR LOCK” button is on the Selec-Terrain
Knob.
Activating The Rear E-Locker
To activate the Rear E-Locker System, the
following conditions must be met:
1. The 4WD system must be in 4WD LOW.
2. The ignition in the ON mode and the
engine running.
3. Vehicle speed must be below 15 MPH
(24 km/h).
4. To engage Rear E-Locker, push the REAR
LOCK button once.Deactivating The Rear E-Locker System
To deactivate the Rear E-Locker System, the
following conditions must be met:
1. Rear E-Locker must be engaged, and the
REAR LOCK indicator light on.
2. The ignition in the ON mode and the
engine running.
Rear Lock ButtonSTARTING AND OPERATING
154
tain operating conditions), the transmis-
sion may use second gear (rather than first
gear) during launches, to minimize wheel
slippage.
•Sport— This mode alters the transmis-
sion's automatic shift schedule for sportier
driving. Upshift speeds are increased to
make full use of available engine power.
NOTE:
SPORT mode is not available when 4WD LOW
is selected.
•Sand/Mud— Off-road calibration for use on
low traction surfaces such as mud, sand, or
wet grass. Driveline is maximized for trac-
tion. Some binding may be felt on less
forgiving surfaces. The electronic brake
controls are set to limit traction control
management of throttle and wheel spin.
•Rock— Off-road calibration only available
in 4WD LOW range. Traction based tuning
with improved steer-ability for use on high
traction off-road surfaces. Use for low
speed obstacles such as large rocks, deep
ruts, etc.NOTE:
• Rock mode is only available on the vehicles
equipped with the Off-Road package.
• Activate the Hill Descent Control or Selec
Speed Control for steep downhill control.
See “Electronic Brake Control System” in
“Safety” for further information.
STOP/START SYSTEM
The Stop/Start function was developed to
reduce fuel consumption. The system will
stop the engine automatically during a ve-
hicle stop if the required conditions are met.
Releasing the brake pedal or pressing the
accelerator pedal will automatically restart
the engine.
This vehicle has been upgraded with a Heavy
Duty Battery, Starter, as well as other engine
parts, to handle the Additional engine starts.
Automatic Mode
The Stop/Start feature is enabled after every
normal customer engine start. At that time,
the system will go into STOP/START READY
and if all other conditions are met, can go
into a STOP/START AUTOSTOP ACTIVE “Au-
tostop” mode.
To Activate The Autostop Mode, The Following
Must Occur:
• The system must be in STOP/START
READY state. A STOP/START READY mes-
sage will be displayed in the instrument
cluster display within the Stop/Start sec-
tion. Refer to “Warning Lights And Mes-
sages” in “Getting To Know Your Instru-
ment Panel” in your Owner’s Manual.
• The vehicle must be completely stopped.
• The gear selector must be in a forward gear
and the brake pedal depressed.
The engine will shut down, the tachometer
will move to the zero position and the Stop/
Start telltale will illuminate indicating you
are in Autostop. Customer settings will be
maintained upon return to an engine running
condition.
STARTING AND OPERATING
156